Pierce County is slowly — very slowly — recovering from the hard hit it took from Hurricane Helene Sept. 26 and 27.
Restoring power has been the biggest challenge to recovery efforts due to the heavy tree and limb damage county-wide.
At press time Monday, Georgia Power estimates that power has been restored to 98 percent of its customers in the cities of Blackshear, Patterson, Offerman and in the Okefenokee Golf Club Community.
Also at press time, Satilla Rural Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) estimates that 30 percent (or about 2,200) of its 7,245 meters in Pierce County remain without power 11 days after the storm.
Immediately after the storm Sept. 27, practically 100 percent of Georgia Power and Satilla REMC customers in Pierce County were without power.
Satilla REMC continues to ask for patience as crews work diligently to restore power. Satilla REMC officials have said the cooperative’s nine counties were among the hardest hit in the state and almost 100 percent of its transmission capabilities was damaged or destroyed and must be repaired and rebuilt.
Damage assessments are still ongoing for damage to homes and buildings in the county. All residences are accesible by road, but there are still some road closures in the county due to power line involvement.
The Red Cross emergency shelter at the Pierce County Gym, 705 College Ave., in Blackshear was still open at press time, but operations may wind down by the end of the week.
Shower facilities are in place there. Pierce County Schools resumed classes yesterday (Tuesday, Oct. 8). Shower facilities will also be available for students whose homes do not yet have power.
County government and the courts and city offices have re-opened.
Pierce County Public Safety Director Blake James continues to ask for patience with recovery efforts.
